Here are several lower-calorie drinks to help quench your summer thirst and fill your belly. Keep in mind that seltzer, unsweetened iced tea and water are real low-calorie alternatives, but in case you're looking for a few others, here you go.

Combine sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at high for 2 minutes or until mixture boils, stirring every 1 minute. Cool.

Place cucumber slices and 1/4 cup water in a blender; process until smooth. Strain mixture through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl to measure 1 cup liquid; discard solids. Combine cucumber liquid and sugar syrup in a small pitcher. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until thoroughly chilled; stir in lime juice.

Place 3/4 cup crushed ice in each of 2 glasses. Pour 1/2 cup cucumber mixture into each glass. Add 1 cup sparkling water to each glass. Garnish with cucumber ribbons, if desired.

Combine all ingredients except the garnishes in a blender cup. Blend on high for 10 seconds. Add 3/4 cup of ice. Blend on high for 10 to 15 seconds until smooth. Pour into a tropical cocktail glass. Garnish with the pineapple leaf, strawberry half and a few blueberries.

Cut the rind from the cantaloupe; discard rind. Cut cantaloupe into cubes; you should have about 6 cups.

In a blender, combine cantaloupe, grapefruit juice and 1 cup of the water. Cover and blend until smooth (blend half of the melon at a time, if necessary). Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher; discard solids.

Stir in remaining water, lime juice, honey and snipped basil. Chill until ready to serve. Strain to remove snipped basil if desired. Serve in glasses over ice and, if desired, garnish with small basil sprigs.

Note: Agua fresca means "fresh water" in Spanish, and the magical combination of fresh fruit, water, sugar and lime refreshes like nothing else. Made with a variety of fruits such as watermelon, mango, guava and passion fruit, agua fresca is the perfect alcohol-free party drink.

Sparkling Basil Lemonade

Healthy recipe from "Better Homes and Gardens The Ultimate Quick & Healthy Book: More Than 400 Low-Cal Recipes with 15 Grams of Fat or Less, Ready in 30 Minutes" by the editors of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

Makes 16 (8-ounce) servings

4 cups water

3 cups sugar

2 cups fresh basil leaves (about 1½ ounces)

2 1-liter bottles club soda, chilled

2 cups lemon juice

Ice cubes

1 fresh jalapeno chile pepper, sliced*

Fresh basil leaves

Basil syrup: In a large saucepan combine the water, sugar and the 2 cups basil. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Strain syrup and discard leaves. Cover syrup and place in freezer for 10 minutes or chill for 2 to 24 hours.

Lemonade: In a very large punch bowl, combine chilled basil syrup, club soda and lemon juice. Serve over ice. Garnish with chile pepper slices and fresh basil leaves.

* Because hot chile peppers contain volatile oils that can burn skin and eyes, avoid direct contact with them as much as possible. When working with chile peppers, wear plastic or rubber gloves. If your bare hands do touch the peppers, wash your hands and nails well with soap and warm water.